Family of unarmed man shot by Downey police announces federal lawsuit

by Corey Moore

Audio from this story

Share

The family of an unarmed man who was shot and killed last month by Downey Police has announced plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Authorities say police were looking for two ATM machine robbery suspects on October 22nd when they shot and killed 31-year-old Michael Nida. They say cops mistook Nida for one of the perpetrators and he reportedly fled from the officers at least twice.

“We need a law in place specifically banning machine guns being deployed by police officers not only in California but nationwide.”

Claypool says swat situations are an exception.

Nida's family said the husband and father of four had jaywalked across a busy street to buy cigarettes near Imperial Highway and Paramount Boulevard at the time of the incident.

The Downey Police Department did not comment on the announced lawsuit. In a statement on its website the department says to avoid a conflict of interest, it has asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting.